Heh heh heh . . . Waves the beta reader here . . . um . . .A most heartfelt apologyto all those who have been trying to read this and couldn't becauseI accidentally replaced it with chapter 9. Um . . . Here's chapter 1! Please excuse me now asI must flee for my life lest Keaira find me and kill me for screwing up her story! Sorry, K!
Timeline/Spoilers/Pairings: Sometime in Season 4, but it's mostly irrelevant. The only important things are Carter's rank and Daniel's hair-major and short. As far as spoilers go . . . none that I can think of. Think of this as a mission they just didn't mention. As far as I know no major plot lines will be tied in, though that might change. My favored pairings are Jack/Sam and Daniel/Other (specifically my own character Elle, who you'll hopefully meet in my other stories, or Sally, a character created by Neuropsych in the Campers! AU whom I've come to adore)
Also, I feel I should mention that I have at the time of this publishing only seen through Season 6 and a few current Season 8 episodes. I do this in the vain hope of cutting off all the "But what about in Season 7/8 when . . ." reviews. I have not seen Season 7 and most of Season 8 so if something seems similar or related or portentous please do not mention it. I'm not really a fan of spoilers, the only exception being the preview at the end of an episode when it airs on TV.
Disclaimer: If I owned these characters things would be very different-Season 6 in particular. Unfortunately, I don't. I just borrowed them and they will be returned in the same condition as when I took them, although I make no guarantees that they'll be happy about returning. Anyone you don't recognize probably belongs to me, including, but not limited to the Corunnas.
If (for some odd reason) you want to borrow any of my own characters or archive or post this elsewhere please observe common courtesy and ask first.
Reviews are appreciated but not required. I will try to respond to any and all questions asked and please tell me if something doesn't make sense so I can clarify it. Odds are you're not the only one who was confused. I don't generally believe in giving spoilers for my stories so don't expect much there. You'll get to read when I post it, just like everyone else.
If you hate it and feel the need to flame me go ahead, but I would remind you that karma can be cruel in that respect so please be polite, for your own sake if not for mine.
Enough with the babble, on with the story!
Acting One's Age
Chapter 1 - A Little Problem
General Hammond stood in the control room overlooking the massive room where the Stargate rested and checked his watch. As the second hand ticked closer to the twelve he heard the oh-so-familiar sounds of the Stargate activating and nodded.
"Miracles never cease. They're actually on time for once."
"Receiving SG-1's iris code, sir," the sergeant working gate control confirmed.
"If they're in one piece I'm giving everyone the day off tomorrow to celebrate," Hammond said as he left the room to go greet his four problem children.
Not, he thought, that they intentionally caused all the trouble that seemed to follow them—well, he had his suspicions but there was no proof of anything—but they did seem to have quite a knack for getting into some deep-
"Shit."
The muttered curse by the leader of the Marine security force was easily heard by Hammond as he passed and moments later he repeated it in his head.
Standing at the top of the ramp as the wormhole dissolved behind him-and looking quite harassed-was Ry'ac.
He wore the standard issue green fatigue pants though they had been belted tightly, the waist bunching up as the slack was held in place by the green webbed belt, the end dangling halfway down the boy's thigh. His boots were also standard issue combat boots though, once again, they looked a little big.
Next to him on his left, one small hand gripped in his, was a boy who had short brown hair and brown eyes and who was scowling at the room as though the armed Marines were somehow at fault for his current situation.
On the boy's other side, half hidden behind him, was an even smaller and apparently younger boy, also with short light brownish hair, but with light blue eyes that surveyed the room curiously.
The fourth member of the odd little group was a little girl with long almost white blonde hair holding the other hand of the youngest boy.
All three boys wore the black t-shirts that were standard issue for SG teams but they were huge and the smallest boy's shoulder and half his arm peeked out of the collar.
The two younger ones wore what appeared to be small green pants with pockets sewn on the sides of the knees in a design similar to the fatigue pants with little moccasin-type shoes on their feet.
The girl was dressed in a bright blue dress of some shimmery fabric overlaid with a sheer sleeveless overdress in a paler shade of blue. On her feet were matching blue moccasins and a blue ribbon had been incorporated in the braid that hung down her back.
Ry'ac looked down at his three charges and then shifted his grip slightly on the staff weapon he carried, even though it was a few feet taller than he was.
As they made their way slowly down the ramp at the youngest boy's pace, Hammond strode over, looking at Ry'ac with more than a little confusion.
It wasn't until they got closer and he got a better look that he realized it wasn't Ry'ac. This young man was older—probably late teens or early twenties—but it looked a lot like him. It was outrageous but only one explanation came to mind.
"Teal'c?" Hammond asked uncertainly and got a nod in response.
"We have returned, General Hammond."
Looking again at the three children next to the teen—and seeing they were all staring unabashedly at him—Hammond wasn't even sure how to ask the questions in his head or where he should begin.
Teal'c saved him from having to figure it out by speaking.
"Might I suggest that we get proceed to the infirmary before we talk?"
Hammond glanced up at Teal'c and then looked back at the three kids who were all still watching him closely.
"That might be a good idea. I'll walk you down."
Teal'c merely inclined his head and turned towards the doorway leading to the passageway.
"I don't wanna go to the doctor," the child on the left whined as they disappeared out the door.
"I am aware of this fact, O'Neill," Teal'c's calm voice floated back. "But it is necessary for Dr. Fraiser to begin examining us if she is to find a solution to our problem."
"But I don't wanna!"
"Whether you want to or not is irrelevant."
"But . . ." The argument continued as the voices and footsteps both faded down the hall.
Hammond stood there for a moment, wondering what he could have possibly done in a previous life to deserve this kind of karma, then drew himself together and followed after.
Thanks in advance for the reviews. Until next time . . .
"Breathe deep; seek peace." - Dinotopia
Keaira